The Federal Government has given the green light for the Bungaban wind farm in the Western Downs region and the Wongalee wind development near Hughenden.

Bungaban Wind is expected to contribute about $500 million to the regional economy through local employment, supply, and contracting opportunities, with about 1000 jobs anticipated at peak construction.

With an output of up to 1.4GW, the project is being developed as a joint venture between Windlab and Squadron Energy.

It received Queensland state development approval in 2025 and has now secured approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The project has a landmark 25-year power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto for 80 per cent of its capacity and was selected for the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme in May.

Related: Qld projects win Capacity Investment Scheme support

“Bungaban Wind is significant not only because of its scale and generation capacity, but because of the care that has gone into its development,” Bungaban Joint Venture project director Kimberly Cram said.

“Through our extensive environmental assessment and engagement with host landholders, Traditional Owners, and local communities, we’ve worked to understand local priorities and shape a project grounded in local alignment.

“The result is a project that can deliver clean energy, regional investment, and long-term community benefits while respecting the environmental and agricultural values that make this part of Queensland special.”

The Bungaban solar project, which is also being progressed by the Bungaban Joint Venture, recently completed its Commonwealth environmental assessment.

It was deemed not a controlled action under the EPBC Act.

The Wongalee wind farm is a proposed 1.4GW renewable energy project being developed as part of the North Queensland Super Hub within the Flinders Shire Council area.

Windlab and Fortescue are behind that wind development, comprising the construction of up to 175 wind turbine generators and associated ancillary infrastructure, including battery energy storage systems and transmission infrastructure.

The project is expected to support about 500 jobs during construction.

Wongalee becomes the second project within the North Queensland Super Hub to achieve all major State and Commonwealth approvals following EPBC approval of the Prairie wind energy project in 2025.

Wongalee and Bungaban were among the wind projects paused by the State Government in early 2025. Wongalee, which is set to hook up to the planned CopperString transmission line, won state development approval in May last year.